Spaccarelli Targets Lucas Off Road Opener

CHANDLER, Ariz. — Friday can’t come quick enough for Myan Spaccarelli. That’s when the drivers and teams that compete in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series will roll into Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park to open the season.

The E3 Spark Plugs Arizona Off Road Nationals March 22-23 will be the first of eight events on the series schedule and Spaccarelli is looking forward to unveiling his improved Tonka Pro 2 truck.

The Simi Valley, Calif., resident and his TeamUp Racing crew have spent the past three seasons competing on a part-time basis and learning by trial and error. Now Spaccarelli hopes the team can apply all it has learned and make the big move upward in the standings that he feels the team’s sponsors deserve.

“This is such a great group of companies,” Spaccarelli said. “I’d be thrilled to have just one or two of them with us. Having them all in our corner is incredible.”

Tonka, which has been one of the world’s leading toy makers for almost 70 years, joined Spaccarelli and the series midway through the 2013 season and quickly became one of the spectators’ favorites with its familiar black and yellow colors and user-friendly display.

“It’s absolutely unbelievable and a little surreal to be connected with a brand as iconic as Tonka,” Spaccarelli said. “We couldn’t think of a better partner. They’ve been standing Tonka Tough since 1947.

“The toys are great and you really can’t ask for better people to have on your side. They are always hands on and what they are doing at the races with the Tonka Fun Zone for the kids is amazing. The kids have such a blast playing with the trucks and other toys.”